Comparative study between programmable logic controllers

Automation in industries and manufacturing plants is a big advantage. It can make the life of the industry experts, a lot easier. Here is a comparative study between programmable logic controllers and distributed control system. It can help you to take your judicious decision.

Automation is a big field and it has a number of subcategories. Nowadays, automation is used as a tool in a number of places including industries, home, business, and a number of other places where human intervention may lead to errors or takes a lot of time to complete the activities. The main point of discussion here is industrial automation. Such type of automation systems and manufacturing automation systems are a little similar where the second one can be considered as a subcategory of the first one. Both types of automation systems will be discussed here.

Different automation systems available

In industrial automation systems, programmable logic controllers or PLCs were used till a few years ago. But now in bigger industries, distributed control systems are used as it has additional efficiency and a number of additional advantages. But in industries, where it is not possible to invest a lot of money for automation, PLCs are the best choices for them, as they are easy to use and are available at reduced prices. There are good and bad sides of PLCs or distributed control systems, which are mentioned here.

Good and bad sides of PLCs

If you consider manufacturing automation systems, both programmable logic controllers and distributed control systems can be implemented in order to get the final target. In case of PLCs or programmable logic controllers, the good sides are, they are cheap, can be used in a number of places, and consume very less power. But the bad sites are, programming them using computers are very difficult, requires a lot of maintenance, and the heart of PLCs should be maintained such that they do not get damaged, which might mark the in the production for a certain period of time.

Good and bad sides of distributed control system

Now coming to control systems, where the main advantages are, the systems being distributed, it will not mark the end of production if one unit stops functioning for a certain period of time. Compared to programmable logic controllers, the distributed control systems are not that tough to program and thus, it can be done by anybody who has very little knowledge related to computer systems and automation technology. They can be used in a number of industries and are more efficient than programmable logic controllers in case of bigger industries. But the main bad sides are, they are much costly compared to PLCs and thus, it cannot be implemented by persons who have small industries.

A small tip in taking a decision

But there is no doubt regarding the fact, in manufacturing automation systems, programmable logic controllers might be used for small activities, even when there are electrical systems for doing larger jobs. In perspective of industrial automation, you can use distributed control system and programmable logic controllers, but distributed control systems can be a useless investment you are running a small-scale industry.